Preparations are being completed in Chile for the final meeting of the Second Cycle of the Periodic Reporting Exercise for LAC

Preparations are being completed in Chile, where almost everything is ready, for the final meeting of the Second Cycle of the Periodic Reporting Exercise for Latin America and the Caribbean that will take place in Santiago de Chile from 2 to 5 December 2012.

The primary objectives of this meeting will be the development of the 2013-2020 Regional Action Plan and also the preparation of a final report on the results of the Second Cycle to be presented to the World Heritage Committee at its 37th session in 2013.

As the final meeting for the Region, it will involve the participation of more than one hundred people among them focal points, site managers and Ambassadors representing twenty-five countries from all three sub-regions in Latin America and the Caribbean – the Caribbean, South America, and Central America and Mexico, and follows on from a cycle of sub regional meetings held in Santo Domingo, Mexico and Brazil. Sub regional organizations and the Advisory Bodies will participate in the event as well.

3. Acknowledges the information provided on the progress made in the implementation of the second cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region (LAC) and commends the States Parties for their efforts to achieve objectives in accordance with the approved calendar;

4. Commends the States Parties of the LAC Region for their active involvement and commitment to the Periodic Reporting exercise;

5. Thanks the States Parties of Dominican Republic, Brazil and Mexico for their financial and in-kind contributions to the organization of sub-regional meetings;

6. Welcomes the financial collaboration for the Periodic Reporting exercise provided by the Spanish Funds-in-Trust for World Heritage, Category 2 Centres, States Parties and Advisory Bodies, and encourages them to continue to provide assistance for the implementation of the process;

7. Takes note of the progress made by the Qhapaq Ñan project, coordinated by the World Heritage Centre, and for the fruitful cooperation between national institutions from the various States Parties to develop it further as a best practice for other transnational and serial nominations, as requested by Decision 31 COM.12B;

8. Requests the States Parties of the Latin America and the Caribbean Region to complete and submit the Periodic Reporting questionnaires to the World Heritage Centre by 31 July 2012;

9. Also requests the World Heritage Centre to submit a final report on the results of the Second Cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise for Latin America and the Caribbean for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 37th session in 2013.